De Wever Expected To Return Mandate As Coalition Talks Collapse

Local media reporting that Bart De Wever, head of the Flemish nationalist New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) is set to hand back the mandate to form the next gov't in a meeting with King Philippe at 2000CET this evening.

• De Wever had sought to form an 'Arizona' coalition formed by his N-VA, the centre-right Flemish Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) party, the liberal Walloon Reformist Movement (MR), the centre-left Flemish Vooruit, and the centrist Walloon Les Engages (LE).
• A number of issues have proved sticking points, including disagreements over capital gains tax, and reforms intended to plug the budget gap that has seen Belgium enter an EU excessive deficit procedure.
• Lengthy coalition talks are not unusual in Belgian politics, meaning that talks following the 9 June election could continue for several more months with the demissionary cabinet of PM Alexander De Croo remaining in a caretaker capacity in the meantime.